9 January – Like a wave

Just when you thought I was going to avoid a certain country, I found this birthday today and knew I had to pick this above the Italian, German, Latvian and Luxembourger who also have birthdays today. I consider it one of this country's best songs.

The contest it came from draws mixed reactions, and I think there are a lot of mediocre songs as well as some crackers. Today's birthday boy Jan Christian Johansen only just won the 1995 Melodifestivalen, but managed the bronze medal - figuratively - in Dublin. His was one of three Nordic songs in the top five, but you can decide whether it was better or worse than Denmark's or Norway's.